Strange Steering "feel"

[domsz4]

i find the front end seems to go lighter with speed. not a lot mind. new tires and a hunter jobbie did help a lot but it didn't cure the lightness.

they do tram-line easily too so you could be feeling this. i would suggest a hunter alignment as a precaution once a year anyway. i had mine done when i replaced the tires which were really badly worn uneven. the new ones 14K miles on are wearing perfectly (maybe a bit quick but at least evenly)

the steering on the 3.0 is a direct link to a non hydraulic steering rack. this is then assisted buy a motor that sits up behind the dash. (if your power steering drops out and the sport button fails get on your hands and knees look up behind the dash and find the plug with a massive thick 6mm2 red and brown wire its probably come loose) the motor knows how much force to put into assisting your steering input via a couple of sensors, they escape me know but one is a accelerometer that sits around the column.

 

[Machine monkey]

Machine monkey, funny that, my steering feels like it requires a bit of extra effort too. Don't like the sound of 'expensive'

Its only been costly as i have decided to change every suspension bush on the car and add coil overs. I honestly believe its down to geometry Bing so maybe we both need to get it done. I have it planed for when all the new bits i have are on the car. No point doing it now and then again latter. I do get the sticky steering problem very occasionally when i have the heater on and been driving for long periods. But that should not affect a face lift car like yours.

 

[stupot67]

Hi,

I think this is very much a characteristic of the Z's handling that is only made worse by runflats/poor geometery, I find coming from my daily driver that the steering feels over assisted and a bit twitchy and is much better in sports mode - Although leaving it in sports mode in traffic is a pain.
I would be interested to hear is folks running 16 or 17" wheels with higher profile rubber experience the same?

Stu.

 

[Machine monkey]

Agree it is better in sport mode.

 

[Bing]

I called my local garage and he's said bring it in and they'll stick it on the ramps to have a look whilst I wait. I'll report back later on

 

[domsz4]

i wish you could have the sport mode steering without the throttle, i find the sport mode throttle a real pain. it just doesnt feel right and its a pest in heavy traffic. maybe its better with a cdv delete?

 

[Machine monkey]

Thats weird i cant dive mine unless its in sports mode there is no feel to the throttle. And i can move my foot far enough to heal and toe properly!!

But weirdly i like the steering without sports mode. Horses for course.....

 

[Bing]

So my garage are pretty much certain that the 'wandering' is to do with needing an alignment... However, whilst they would pass an MOT and they're not at the point of causing a serious issue, the bushes on the wishbones and anti-roll bar are starting to become worn and there's some movement....which will be causing the juddering. Given I don't just pootle around in it, I think new wishbones and bushes are required as well as an alignment - should jack up the Inspection 2 price nicely in a couple of weeks time :lol:

 

[stupot67]

So my garage are pretty much certain that the 'wandering' is to do with needing an alignment... However, whilst they would pass an MOT and they're not at the point of causing a serious issue, the bushes on the wishbones and anti-roll bar are starting to become worn and there's some movement....which will be causing the juddering. Given I don't just pootle around in it, I think new wishbones and bushes are required as well as an alignment - should jack up the Inspection 2 price nicely in a couple of weeks time :lol:

There are a couple of traders on E-Bay selling Meyle HD TCA's and bushes for around the £190 mark, the arms themselves are really well made and easily as good as the OEM parts (And they come with a long warranty) - shouldn't add more than an hours labour to the bill to fit once the cars up on the ramp, you'll also need some new bolts for the ally undertray part No 31106772199 £20.74 (Bag of 10) from Sopers.

Stu.

 

[Machine monkey]

Just got my Meyle bits n bob they do indeed look good quality i used c3bmw and spoke to a bloke called Simon really helpful

 

[Toe-side]

I also have noticed this even on flat roads but not all the time. I think it is an issue with the electric steering rather than suspension.
Need to investigate how the steering gets 'feedback'
Found this shows how the system works. Suggesting if the Torque sensor is being triggered it could trigger the leccy power steering on and off. That what it feels like to me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JePWZ9NxCrk

 

[Bing]

Hmmm. I did get to look under the car though - chap showed me where the bushes were beginning to move and clean/shine the metal parts. He showed me the wheel movement when it was on the jack too. It was very minimal movement - millimetres - I trust them, and I don't think the suspension parts have ever been changed, which means they are 8 years and 96k miles old... So they could probably do with being changed. I'd quite like to do a Monkey on all of the suspension parts tbh, just don't have the cash right now after splurging on wheels & tyres

 

[Bing]

By the way, that computer generated voice is weird :lol:

 

[Machine monkey]

Doing a monkey has cost me a fortune!! No bananas for me this month!!

That voice is spooky!!

 

[Wa'ya]

I had this really bad when I first got mine, the run flats were deleted by the previous owner but when checking things out the lollypop bushings were just short of falling apart. Replacing them, an alignment, and recalibrating the steering angle sensor did wonders,

 

[Wa'ya]

I had this really bad when I first got mine, the run flats were deleted by the previous owner but when checking things out the lollypop bushings were just short of falling apart. Replacing them, an alignment, and recalibrating the steering angle sensor did wonders,

 

[jamesfirefighter]

My 3.0l manual roadster has developed this strange steering feel too, after fitting some aftermarket parts:

Eibach Pro lowering springs.

Eagle F1's Asymentric 2 (non runflat) 225/40 on front 255/35 on the rear.

FRONT CONTROL ARMS WISHBONE BUSH MEYLE
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z4-E85-E86-CONTROL-ARMS-WISHBONE-BUSH-MEYL40E-HD-C813-/190933378791?

FRONT Antiroll Bar Stabiliser Drop Link(Meyle )
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-2-Heavy-Duty-FRONT-Antiroll-Bar-Stabiliser-Drop-Link-Links-Meyle-HD-PAIR-/121241947737?ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:GB:3160

REAR TRAILING SUSPENSION ARM BUSH (Meyle)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-BMW-3-SERIES-E36-E46-REAR-TRAILING-SUSPENSION-ARM-BUSH-HEAVY-DUTY-MEYLE-HD-NEW-/131053772637?ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:GB:3160

I have also had the tracking / alignment carried out TWICE since these parts were fitted.

I am beginning to wish I'd stuck with OEM parts, as I never had to fight to keep my car in a straight line at high speeds until now.

Not sure what I'm going to do yet, but need this sorting ASAP !

 

[jamesfirefighter]

My 3.0l manual roadster has developed this strange steering feel too, after fitting some aftermarket parts:

Eibach Pro lowering springs.

Eagle F1's Asymentric 2 (non runflat) 225/40 on front 255/35 on the rear.

FRONT CONTROL ARMS WISHBONE BUSH MEYLE
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z4-E85-E86-CONTROL-ARMS-WISHBONE-BUSH-MEYL40E-HD-C813-/190933378791?

FRONT Antiroll Bar Stabiliser Drop Link(Meyle )
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-2-Heavy-Duty-FRONT-Antiroll-Bar-Stabiliser-Drop-Link-Links-Meyle-HD-PAIR-/121241947737?ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:GB:3160

REAR TRAILING SUSPENSION ARM BUSH (Meyle)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-BMW-3-SERIES-E36-E46-REAR-TRAILING-SUSPENSION-ARM-BUSH-HEAVY-DUTY-MEYLE-HD-NEW-/131053772637?ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:GB:3160

I have also had the tracking / alignment carried out TWICE since these parts were fitted.

I am beginning to wish I'd stuck with OEM parts, as I never had to fight to keep my car in a straight line at high speeds until now.

Not sure what I'm going to do yet, but need this sorting ASAP !

From reading Z'owners similar stories on here, I think my first port of call will be to check tyre pressures and the 'steering angle sensor'. Worth a try i suppose. Fingers crossed

 

[Jembo]

Also check the steering tie rod ends & all 4 drop links.

This, coupled with non RFTs & poly bushing the lollipops made noticeable improvements - ARB buses made little / no difference & I did the lot

 

[gordongecko500]

I got my Z4C back in January and posted a thread on here with the same problem, but mine is on fun-flats. They do tramline terribly, so I will be ditching the RFTs once they're worn out and getting a wheel alignement done at the sametime. On the motorway with sport mode on, I don't feel it so much.

I've just accepted it to be a characteristic of the car - and drive with both hands on the wheel! :driving: